Forbes Global 2000: The World's Largest Companies In 2013

The Forbes Global 2000 is a categorization of the largest publicly listed companies in the world. Together, these 2000 companies employ 87 million people, own $159 trillion in assets, and generate $38 trillion in revenues annually – or approximately 51 percent of the world's GDP.

In a reflection of the globalization of the world, and the growing influence of emerging markets, the footprint of the Global 2000 has grown. In 2004, companies came from 51 markets, but this has grown to 63 markets by 2013.

Nevertheless, US companies continue to dominate the list. Despite having 208 less members than what it had in 2004, when the Forbes Global 2000 was first published, the US's total of 543 companies in the 2013 list was its highest number since 2009. Japan, with 251 members, was the second largest presence on the list, with Mainland China (136 members) checking in as the third largest country in terms of membership with same number of firms from a year ago. This is the first year since our inaugural 2004 list that China has not increased its number of Global 2000 companies.

Significantly, two Chinese companies are now at the top of the Forbes Global 2000 for the first time in history. The government-controlled Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) usurped Exxon Mobil as the world’s biggest company this year, whileaAnother Chinese bank, China Construction Bank, moved up 11 spots to No. 2.

Regionally Asia-Pacific, (715 total members) had the most number of companies listed, followed by Europe, Middle East & Africa-EMEA (606), the US (543) and the Americas (143).Asia-Pacific, the biggest region, lead all regions in sales growth (up 8 percent) and asset growth (up 15 percent) as well. The US on the other hand, led in profit growth (up 4 percent), earning an aggregate $876 billion in profits, and market value growth (11 percent), with an aggregate value of $14.8 trillion; while the EMEA generated the most sales, a combined $13.3 trillion, and holds the most assets with $64 trillion.

Banks and other financial institutions also accounted for the largest number of companies (469 members); with the next three biggest industries by membership: oil & gas (124), materials (122) and insurance (109).

The Forbes Global 2000 uses an equal weighting of sales, profits, assets and market value to rank companies according to size. Forbes's market value calculation is as of March 15 closing prices, including all common shares outstanding.

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Contributors

Professor at Columbia University. Recipient of the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences in 2001 & the John Bates Clark Medal in 1979. Author of "Freefall: America, Free Markets", "The Sinking of the World Economy", "Globalisation and its Discontents" & "Making Globalisation Work".

Nouriel Roubini, a.k.a. “Doctor Doom”, is chairman of Roubini Global Economics and professor of economics at New York University’s Stern School of Business. Roubini has been consistently cited as one of the world’s top global thinkers. This year, he was voted as the most influential economist in the world by Forbes magazine.

Chancellor of the Exchequer of the United Kingdom from 1992 to 2007. Prime Minister of the UK between 2007 and 2010. Inaugural 'Distinguished Leader in Residence' at New York University. Advisor at World Economic Forum